Compensate farmers for crop loss due to unseasonal rain, SAD to Punjab CM

The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Friday slammed chief minister Bhagwant Mann for turning a blind eye towards farmers and backtracking on his promise to provide interim compensation of ₹20,000 per acre before girdawari in case of destruction of their crops due to natural calamities

Chandigarh The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Friday slammed chief minister Bhagwant Mann for turning a blind eye towards farmers and backtracking on his promise to provide interim compensation of ₹20,000 per acre before girdawari in case of destruction of their crops due to natural calamities.

Farmer examines the flattened wheat crop after heavy rain and hailstorm in Amritsar on March 25, 2023. (Sameer Sehgal/HT)

In a statement here, SAD leader Bikram Singh Majithia said heavy rains during the last two days had further damaged wheat crops with farmers facing a catastrophe-like situation.

“The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) had promised in its election manifesto that it would give a compensation of ₹20,000 per acre before girdawari was conducted to assess damage to provide immediate succour to farmers,” he added.

Asking the CM to fulfil his promise, Majithia said, “The final compensation, which should total ₹50,000 per acre in all, including the interim compensation, can be released once the girdawari was completed”, he added. HTC